Vikings tight end MyCole Pruitt heads to the end zone for a touchdown after taking a pass from quarterback Mike Kafka during the first half of their exhibition victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

The Vikings released offensive tackle Sean Hickey on Thursday to make room on the practice squad for tight end MyCole Pruitt.

Pruitt was waived by the Vikings on Tuesday when quarterback Taylor Heinicke was placed on the 53-man roster after being on the reserve non-football injury list. Pruitt cleared waivers Wednesday, and agreed to return to Minnesota on the practice squad.

Hickey was undrafted in 2015 out of Syracuse. He was in training camp with the Vikings before being waived. He was signed to the practice squad on Sept. 27.

The Vikings picked up Pruitt in the fifth round of the 2015 draft, and he caught 10 passes for 89 yards as a rookie. Pruitt has just one catch for seven yards in two games this season while battling injuries.

Pruitt suffered a left knee injury in an Aug. 25 preseason game against San Diego and then hurt his right knee Oct. 9 against Houston. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer was asked Thursday what Pruitt needs to do to return to form.

“He gets opportunities every day to go out and practice and prove it,” Zimmer said.

Chris joined the Pioneer Press in 2013 to cover the Vikings. He was a longtime NBA writer with the Akron Beacon Journal, Rocky Mountain News and AOL FanHouse. Before coming to Minnesota, he covered the Miami Heat and Dolphins for Fox Sports. Chris has won four awards in the past three Pro Football Writers of America contests. Chris is a graduate of Northwestern University, where he spent his college years watching the losingest team in the history of Division I-A football.

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